Switch mechanism



Jan; 16, 1923. v 1,442,066;

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MECHANISM.

ITNESSES: Q INVENTOR Wil i/mm, ,N I *3 'ff'ldr/eslil/odelrins Ww ATTORNEY Patented Jan. 16, 1923.

UNITED STATES FAJEN'F e sures.

CHARLES H. HODGKINS, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA; ASSIGNOR TO WESTING- HOUSE ELECTRIC & MANUFACTURING COMPANYQA CORPORATION OF PENNSYL- VANIA.

SWITCH MECHANISM;

Application filed November 16, 1917; Serial N6. 202,3.

To all whom it may concern 7 Be it known that I, CHABLES H. Honoxms, a subject of the King of Great Britain, and

a resident of Pittsburgh, in the county of' character that shall embody a main and an auxiliary switch which are combined in a simple and inexpensive manner. so that the auxiliary switch may be operated by'the leakage flux oi the main switch without interfering with the operation of the latter;

In many control. systems, itis essential to provide main operating switches which etlect the operation of interlock or auxiliary switches. The armature of the main switch is mechanically associated Wltll theauxiliary switch in a manner to efiect operation of the auxiliary switch when the mainswitch is o ierated. I'lmever, the above method of operating the auxiliaryswitch is impractical in many cases where the magnetic circuit which operates the main armature is of an insufficient capacity to perform the added work which would be necessary in order to operate the interlock switch.

In a switch mechanism constructed in accordance with my invention, the main switches are provided with means for governing the operation of the auxiliary switches by means of the leakage flux of the main switches. An auxiliary switch, which is maintained in an open position by means of a spring mechanism, is associated with each main switch, and an armature, which is operated by the. leakage flux of the main switch, is provided for releasing the spring mechanism to permit the closing of the auxiliary switch.

In the accompanying drawing, Fig. 1 is a sectional side elevational view of a switch mechanism constructed in accordance with mv invention, and Fig. 2 is a front elevational view of the switch mechanism illustrated in Fig. 1.

Referring to the accompanying drawing, a switch mechanism 1 embodies a main switch 2 and an auxiliary or'interlock switch 2, which is-suitably mounted uponan insulatingsupport' The main switch 2 era-- bodies an'energiz 'mg'coil a which is mounted upon a-core memben a pair of relatively movable contact members (3 and 7 and an armature 8. The core 5 issecured to the insulating sup'port'b inany suitable manner, as by mcans ofa bolt '9 which serves another fimction to be set" forth hereinafter. The armature 8 is pivotally mounted upon a framclO, which is composed ofmagnetizable material and is providedwith a projection 11' Whichwngages a lu g '12 on the frame for limiting the movement of the armature. Thecontact member 6 is mmintedupon a sup'porhlti, and the contact member 7 is pivotally mounted, in any suitable manner, upon thearmatixre'S.

Theairxiliary switch 2 embodies an arm- 14Wh1'eh is pivotraxlly moimtcd 'on a. support 15 and is provided with a contact member 16 fonbridging the contact terminals 17 and 18; A post '19, whichissecured to the ins rlatin g- 'support 3 in any-suitable manner. projects through the arm-14 and =isprovicl'ed with anen largedfheadQO'near one end thereof: A spring 21 issl isfxmed arouml the post 19 intermediate the arm 14 and the head 24) in a manner to tend to close the auxiliary switch. A pin 22, which projects through the insulating support 3 and engages the arm 14, is provided with a collar 23, and, intermediate the collar 23 and the insulating support 3, is located a coil spring 24 which is adapted to overcome the action of spring 21 and maintain the auxiliary switch 2 in an open position, under certain conditions. An auxiliary armature 25, which is pivotally mounted intermediate its ends on a support 26, is pivotally connected, near one end, to the pin 22, and the other end thereof is adapted to co-operate with the bolt 9 of magnetizable material which secures the core 5 to the insulating support 3.

Assuming the apparatus to be in the position illustrated in the drawing, the coil 4 may be energized to attract the armature S and complete a magnetic circuit for the coil through the core 5, the frame 10 and the armature 8. When the above magnetic circuit is completed and the switch 2 is closed. a sufficient amount of leakage flux is produced for attracting the auxiliary armature 25 to the extension!) of the core As soon as the armature 25 is operated. and the spring 24 is compressed thereby, the spring 21 becomes operative to effect the closing of the auxiliary switch 1.

If so desired, the air gap between the armature 25 and the bolt 9 may be varied in order to ad ust the time of operation of the armature 25. A bolt 30, which is mounted on the armature 25, may be provided to effect such adjustment.

Modifications in the apparatus and arrangement and location of parts may be made within the spirit and scope of my invention and such modifications are intended to be covered by the appended claims.

I claim as my invention:

1. The combination with a member biased in one direction and means for normally preventing the operation of said member in said direction, of an electromagnet and means controlled by the leakage flux of said electromagnet for rendering said preventing means inoperative.

2. The combination with an electromagnet, 01"- a switch having aspring mechanism associated therewith for maintaining the same in an open position under predetermined conditions, an armature operated by the leakage flux of said electromagnet for permitting operation of the spring mechanism when operated and means for closing said switch.

3. In a switch mechanism, the combination with a main switch comprising a coil, a core and an armature for completing a magnetic circuit through said core and for operating the main switch contacts, and an auxiliary armature operated by the leakage flux of the main switch, of an auxiliary switch, means for closing the auxiliary switch, and a spring mechanism for maintaining the auxiliary switch in an open position, said spring mechanism being compressed by the auxiliary armature to permit the closing of the auxiliary switch.

4:. In a switch mechanism, the combination with an electrically-operated main switch and an auxiliary armature operated by the leakage flux of the main switch, of an auxiliary switch, means for maintaining the auxiliary switch in an open position which is opposed by the auxiliary armature and means for closing the auxiliary switch.

The combination with an electromagnet having an energized core member mounted upon. an insulating support and an armature member therefor, of a magnetizable member detachably mounted in said core member and through said support, and an armature member adapted to be attracted by said magnetizable member.

6. The combination with an insulating support, of a pair of'switches and an electromagnet for actuating one of said switches mounted upon one side of said support, a magnetizable member magnetically connected to said electromagnet extending through said support, and an armature member having a pole piece for co-operating with said magnetizable member mounted upon the other side of said sup port and controlling said other switch.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name this 1st day of November, 1917.

CHARLES H. I-IODGKINS. 

